Cardiomyopathy
is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump
blood to the rest of our body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.
Types
Types of
cardiomyopathies include:
·
Dilated cardiomyopathy.
In this type of cardiomyopathy, the pumping ability of the heart’s main pumping
chamber, the left ventricle, becomes enlarged (dilated) and cannot effectively
pump blood out of the heart.
Although
this type can affect people of all ages, it occurs most often in middle-aged
people and is more likely to affect men. The most common cause is coronary
artery disease or heart attack. Also be caused by genetic defects.
·
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
This type involves abnormal thickening of heart muscle, which makes it harder
for the heart to work. It mostly affects the muscle of left ventricle.
Hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy can develop at any age, but the condition tends to be more
severe if it occurs during childhood. Most people with this type of
cardiomyopathy have a family history of the disease. Some genetic mutations
have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
·
Restrictive cardiomyopathy.
In this type, the heart muscle becomes stiff and less flexible, so it cannot
expand and fill with blood between heartbeats. This least common type of
cardiomyopathy can occur at any age, but it most often affects older people.
Restrictive
cardiomyopathy can occur for no known reason, or it can be caused by a disease
elsewhere in the body that affects the heart, such as amyloidosis.
·
Arrythmogenic right
ventricular dysplasia. In this rare type of cardiomyopathy, the muscle in
the right ventricle, is replaced by scar tissue, which can lead to heart rhythm
problems. It is often caused by genetic mutations.
·
Unclassified cardiomyopathy.
Other types of cardiomyopathies fall into this category.
Symptoms
There might
be no signs or symptoms in the early stages of cardiomyopathy. But as the
condition advances, signs and symptoms usually appear, including:
·
Breathlessness with activity or even
at rest
·
Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
·
Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid
buildup.
·
Cough while lying down
·
Difficulty lying flat to sleep
·
Fatigue
·
Heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding
or fluttering
·
Chest discomfort or pressure
·
Dizziness, lightheadedness and
fainting
Signs and
symptoms tend to get worse unless treated. In some people the condition worsens
quickly; in others, it might not worsen for a long time.
Causes
The cause of
the cardiomyopathy is unknown. It may acquired, or inherited. Certain health
conditions or behaviors that can lead to acquired cardiomyopathy include:
·
Long-term high blood pressure
·
Hear tissue damage from a heart
attack
·
Long-term rapid heart rate
·
Heart valve problems
·
Covid-19 infection
·
Certain infections, especially those
that cause inflammation of the heart
·
Metabolic disorders, such as obesity,
thyroid diseaseor diabetes
·
Lack of essential vitamins or
minerals in diet, such as thiamin
·
Pregnancy complications
·
Iron buildup in heart muscle
·
The growth of tiny lumps or
inflammatory cells, granulomas, in any prat of the body, including heart and
lungs, sarcoidosis
·
The buildup of abnormal proteins in
the organs
·
Connective tissue disorders
·
Drinking too much alcohol over many
years
·
Use of cocaine, amphetamines or
anabolic steroids
·
Use of some chemotherapy drugs and
radiation to treat cancer
HOMOEOPATHY
MEDICINES
Homoeopathy today is a
growing system and is being practiced all over the world. Its strength lies in
its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick
individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and
physical levels. When cardiomyopathy is
concerned there are many effective medicines are available in Homoeopathy, but
the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering the
mental and physical symptoms.
ADONIS
VERNALIS
A heart medicine,
acts on heart muscles, where the muscles are in stage of fatty degeneration,
regulating the pulse and increasing the power of contractions of heart, with
increased urinary secretions. Low vitality, with weak heart and slow, weak,
pulse. Mitral or aortic regurgitations. Precordial pain, palpitations, and
dyspnea. Irregular cardiac action, constriction and vertigo. Pulse rapid and
irregular.
CACTUS
GRANDIFLORUS
Constriction
of heart, as if from an iron band.
Constrictions, very active pains and stitches in the heart, pulse
feeble, irregular, quick, without strength. Herat weak. Endocardial murmurs of
enlarged ventricles.
COVALLARIA
MAJALIS
A heart
remedy. Increases energy of heart’s action, renders it more regular. When the
ventricles are over distended and dilatation begins. When there is an absence
of compensatory hypertrophy and when venous stasis is marked. Sensation as if
heart ceased beating, then starting very suddenly. Extremely rapid and
irregular pulse.
DIGITALIS
PURPUREA
Weakness and
dilatation of myocardium, indicates heart failure, especially when atrial
fibrillation has set in. Sensation as if heart would stop beating if she moved.
Pulse weak and quickened by the least movements. Pulse full, irregular, very
slow, in the beginning and weak intermitting every 3rd, 5th,
or 7th beat. Hypertrophy with
dilatation.
GELSEMIUM
SEMPERVIRENS
Fears that
unless on the move heart will cease beating. A feeling as if it were necessary
to keep in motion, or else heart’s action would cease. Slow pulse. Palpitation,
pulse soft, weak, full and flowing. Pulse slow when quiet, but greatly
accelerated on motion.
IBERIS AMARA
Controls
vascular excitement in hypertrophy with thickening of heart’s walls.
Palpitation with vertigo and choking in throat. Violent palpitation induced by
slightest exertion, or by laughing, or coughing. Wakes with palpitation at
about 2 am. Tachycardia. Pulse full, irregular and intermittent. Darting pain
through heart.
KALMIA
LATIFOLIA
Weak, slow
pulse. In small doses it accelerates the heart’s action. Palpitation, worse
leaning forward. Tachycardia with pain. Sharp pain takes away the breath.
Shooting pain through chest, above the heart, into the shoulder blade. Heart’s
action tumultuous, rapid and visible.
NAJA
TRIPUDIENS
Simple
hypertrophy of heart. Hypertrophy with valvular affections of heart. Dragging
and anxiety in the precordia. Feeling of weight on the chest. Angina pains
extending to nape of the neck, left shoulder and arm with anxiety and fear of
death. Pulse irregular in force.
SPIGELIA
Violent
palpitation. Precordial pain and great aggravation from movement. Frequent
attacks of palpitations, especially with foul odor from mouth. Pulse weak and
irregular. Angina pectoris, craving for hot water which relieves the pain.
Dyspnea, must lie on right side with head high.
SPONGIA TOSTA
Rapid and
violent palpitations, with dyspnea; cannot lie down; also feels best resulting
in horizontal position. Awakened suddenly after midnight with pain and
suffocation, is flushed, hot, and frightened to death. Hypertrophy of heart
especially right, with asthmatic symptoms. Surging of blood into the chest, as
if it would force out upwards.